Lesson 11

Doctrine and Covenants 57–62

The following assignments include various learning activities, such as questions, lists, essays, charts, comparisons, contrasts, and surveys. To receive credit for this lesson, you must complete the number of assignments indicated below and submit them to your institute instructor or administrator. You may submit your work either electronically or on paper, handwritten or typed.

Each lesson should take approximately 60–90 minutes to complete, the same amount of time you would typically spend in a weekly institute class. Since reading the scripture block listed in the lesson heading is expected of all institute students prior to class, the estimated time for each assignment does not include the time you need to spend reading the scripture block.

Complete assignment 2 and any two of the other assignments:

Read the institute student manual “Historical Background” for section 57 (page 118), the section heading for Doctrine and Covenants 57, and verses 1–5 of section 57. Mark in the section heading the three questions Joseph Smith “exclaimed in yearning prayer.” Then respond in writing to the following:

What question did the Lord answer, and what was His response?

From Joseph’s questions and the Lord’s answers, describe the relationship of asking questions and receiving revelations.

How can this apply to you personally?

Prior to their affiliation with the restored gospel, Sidney Gilbert was a storekeeper and entrepreneur, William W. Phelps was a newspaper editor, and Oliver Cowdery was a schoolteacher. Carefully study Doctrine and Covenants 57:6–14 and write answers to the following questions:

What was each of these men to do to build up Zion?

What can you learn from these verses about how the Lord might use your skills, talents, education, and professional abilities to build up the Church in your area?

What counsel did the Lord give to the Saints as they started the work of establishing Zion? How does this counsel demonstrate the Lord’s omniscience and His loving kindness?

How would the experience of building new cities and a new society prepare the Saints for events they would experience over the next 30 years?

Read the student manual commentary “D&C 58:8–11: The Supper of the Lord” (pages 120–21). How are the “feast of fat things” and “wine on the lees well refined” appropriate metaphors for the gospel?

Carefully study Doctrine and Covenants 58:14–62. As you study, write a general description of what counsel the Lord gave to each of the men listed below as they were to build up Zion. Also write the consequences that would come to each of them for failing to heed the Lord’s counsel.

Verse 4 indicates that commandments can be viewed as a “crown.” How can the commandments listed in verses 5–8 be viewed as a crown or a blessing?

What is the significance of the phrase “nor do anything like unto it”? (verse 6).

In your own words, define the phrase “a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (verse 8).

Read Doctrine and Covenants 59:9–22. Note that these verses, which outline basic doctrines and principles relating to the Sabbath day, do not teach specific applications of what you should and should not do on that day. Write responses to the following:

List 6–8 doctrines and principles that teach how to keep the Sabbath day holy.

How do you think adherence to these doctrines and principles helps us become “unspotted from the world”? (verse 9).

Using the footnotes and the student manual commentary “D&C 59:11–12: What Is an Oblation?” (page 127), describe what oblations are. How does offering them help you keep the Sabbath day holy?

Describe one thing you will start doing, or will do better, to more fully keep the Sabbath day holy.

What commandment did the Lord give in verses 7 and 21? Explain the connection between this commandment and keeping the Sabbath day holy.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 60:2–8, 13. Write a few paragraphs on the principles contained in these verses and how they can help all Church members understand the importance of looking for missionary opportunities and sharing the gospel freely.

In Doctrine and Covenants 62:3, the Lord spoke about the importance of sharing your testimony of the gospel. Summarize that verse in your own words and then write a few sentences identifying blessings that have come to you personally as a result of bearing your testimony.